Cotton-feeding mechanism



Nov. 12, 1929. w, s w 1,735,135

COTTON FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 20. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l 22 32 O J8 30 O 2.9 4 F1 .2 81. 9 if I/AH/ENT R.

NOV. 12, W. SHAW COTTON FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 20, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w TTORNE Nov. 12, 1929. w. SHAW COTTON FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20. 1927 t; ORA/5) MJAT f mu 1/ 1/ v :l I 1 Nov. 12, 1929.

W. SHAW COTTON FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 20. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I //v VEN TO R dWsv Patented Nov. 12 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM SHAW, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, assrenon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To KITSON MACHINE SHOP, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS COTTON-FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed May 20, 1927. Serial No. 192,910.

This invention relates to mechanisms for feeding vcotton and other fibrous materials,

hereinafter included in the term cotton, and.

it is especially concerned with the so-called Morton distributor which is. shown in Patent No. 881,940. I I

This distributing mechanism has now gone into very general use in textile mills to convey cotton and other fibrous materials and to distribute such materials to a series of machines, supplying each machine substantially in accordance with its requirements. In ad dition, the controlling apparatus used in this mechanism is also used in a great variety of machines where it is desired to govern the feeding of the cotton automatically as required by variations in the supply of this material. As usually organized, a mechanism of this character comprises a feeler responsive to changes in the supply of cotton, and a power driven mechanism which is controlled by the feeler and which operates under predetermined conditions to shift a gate, operate a switch, move a belt shifter, or perform some similar function. The mechanism is so arranged that this shift or operation occurs very abruptly, the actuating movement being a blow or impact; and because of this fact it frequently happens that the part shifted rebounds or that the desired movement is not completed.

The present invention deals with this problem, and it aims to improve'mechanisms of the character above indicated with a view to making them more reliable and increasing their usefulness. An especially important ob ect of the invention is'todevlse a more satisfactory mechanism for producing the movements necessary to effect the desired controlling operations, to producesuch movements smoothly and Without shock, and to make such operations positive and certain. The invention also aims to devise anoperating unit for use in a feeding or distributing and feeds cotton to a series of machines.

ing drawings, and the novel features will be I particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

I Figure 1 isaperspective view of an operating unit embodying certain features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, Showing a distributor mechanism embodying this invention; v

Fig. 4c is a plan view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a Side view showing this invention as applied to a tandem feed mechanism;

6 is a side elevation Showing another arrangement embodying this invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, ofa lattice feed which may be substituted for the belt conveyor Shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. r 3

Referring first to Figs. 3 and 4 which show the invention as applied to. a distributing mechanism of the Morton type, the conveyor belt of the distributor is shown at 2 and one of the gates is indicated at The belt runs between side plates or guides 4e4, Fig. 11X, gate is located just above the feed hopper of each machine to divert the cotton from the belt into the hopper, the guides 4 being cut away to permit this act-ion and to accommodate the gate. In the drawings a hopper 5 of a lattice feeder of the ordinary type is shown in cooperative relationship to the belt 2 and gate 3. This gate is mounted to swing on a pivot 6, and in order to Swing it, it is connected by a link 7 to an arm 8 which is secured on the upper end of a vertical rock shaft 9, The lower end of this rock shaft has I an arm 10 which is connected by a link 12 to c to swing the gate 3 into either its closed or open position. The unit 13 is under the control of a feeler fork 14 which is mounted in the hopper 5 and which throws the unit into operation, in one direction or the other, 1n accordance with variations in the constantly changing body of cotton in the hopper. The feeler is mounted on a horizontal rock shaft 15 at the upper edge of the hopper, and a sector 16 is secured to this rock shaft and meshes with a pinion 17 to which a weighted arm 18 is secured. The weight acts through the pinion and sector to urge tne feeler fork 14 forward against the weight of the cotton in the hopper, and the upper end of the feeler is connected by a rod 20 to the operating unit 13.

When the supply of cotton in the hopper 5 becomes depleted, the weight 18, and its connections with the feeler, move the feeler fork 14 forward, thus bringing the unit 13 into operation and causing it to act through the connections with the gate 3 to move the gate into substantially the position shown in Fig. 4. This results in diverting cotton from the belt 2'into the hopper 5, and the increased weight of cotton in the hopper next forces the feeler 14 backwardly and causes the unit 13 to operate again to return the gate to its closed or inoperative position where it lies beside and substantially parallel to the belt 2.

In order to accomplish the result above described, it will be evident that the member 22 to which the link 12 is connected must be moved backward or forward.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 which show the operating unit in detail, itwill be observed thatthis unit comprises a main driving shaft 23 carrying a pulley 24 which may be belted to any convenient source of power. This shaft also carries a bevel pinion 25 which meshes constantly with two bevel gears 26 and 27, respectively, both mounted to rotate freely on a shaft 28 which is provided with a screw threaded portion 29. Bearings 30, 31 and 32 operatively support the shaft 28. Between the two bevel gears 26 and 27 is a clutch member 33 which is splined to the shaft 28 so that it is compelled to rotate with this shaft, this member being provided at its opposite ends with projections which engage in recesses formed in the inner ends of the bevel gears 26 and 27 Consequently, when the clutch member 33 is thrown into engagement with either pinion it causes that pinion to drive the shaft 28. Since these gears are both driven by the gear 25, they revolve in opposite dlrections, and the shaft 28 may, therefore, be driven in one direction or the other, as desired. In order to control the direction of rotation a lever 34 is fulcrumed at 35 on the bracket or base 36 which supports the entire mechanism, and this lever carries a roll 37 which runs in a peripheral groove formed in the clutch member 33. By swinging the lever 34 in one direction or the other, the clutch 33 may be shifted into operative engagement with either of the gears 26 or A short link 38 is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 34 and also to a pivot stud 40, and this link is encircled by a coil d spring 41 which tends to hold the control lever 34 at either extremity of its swinging movement, as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2.

The screw threaded portion 29 of the shaft 28 engages a correspondingly threaded portion of the driven member 2, above referred to, and this member consists of a nut or traveller which is driven backward and forward b y the screw 29, the direction of its movement dependin upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 28, which forms the driving member for said traveller or driven member. It wil be understood that the inclined surfaces of the threads on the rotary shaft 28 cooperwith the threads on the traveller 22 to drive the latter member positively in either a'forward or backward direction. It will also he observed that the connections between thesedriving and driven members is such that the driven member or traveller cannot reverse the rotary motion of the driving mem her. The traveller 22 is made of channel section, and it is guided partly by the screw 29, and partly by its sliding engagement with the outer surface of the bearing block 32. This arrangement thus prevents the traveller from turnin but permits it to slide backward and forward. At its outer end the traveller is provided with a block 42 consisting of the head of a bolt which is adjustably secured in the traveller, this head being drilled transversely to its axis so that the link 12, Fig. 3, can be pivoted to it, or a rod, hook 43, or other operating member can be secured thereto.

The usual connection between the feeler fork 14 and the lever 34 of the operating unit consists of a rod 20, Figs. 1 and 3, provided with two collars 44 and 45 which are adjustably secured to the rod at opposite side of the lever the rod passing through a hole in the end or the lever. Consequently, when the feeler calls for more cotton, the rod 20 will be moved far enough to cause the collar 45 to strike the lever 34 and cause this lever to throw the clutch 33 into operative engagement with the bevel gear 26. This will result in moving the traveller 22 inwardly and will shift the gate into substantially the position shown in Fi s. 3 and 4. At approx imately the time the desired movement of the traveller has been completed, a collar 46, Figs. 1 and 2, adjustably mounted on the rod 47 strikes the lever 34 and moves this lever far enough to disengage the clutch 33 from the driving gear 26, thus interrupting the rotation of the shaft 28 and the driving screw 29. The rod 4'? is secured to the traveller and moves in unison with it. The parts remain mamas in this position until the feeler forkll is forced backwardly by the increased weight of cotton delivered to the hopper, at which time the collar 44 onthe rod 20 strikes the lever 3d and shifts it into the reverse of the position shown in Fig.2. This connects the driving shaft 28 with the gear 27, thus causing'the shaftto rotate in the opposite direction and thereby to move the traveller '22 :outwardly, thi movement resulting in swinging the gate '3 intoits inactive position and stopping the delivery of cotton to the hopper. When a substantially predetermined movement of the traveller in its reverse direction has occurred, another collar 48 adjustable on therod 47 engages the control lever 34 and moves thislever far enough to disconnect the clutch 33 from the gear 27, This again interrupts the operation of the unit and it remains in this condition until brought into action by a further movement of the feeler.

It should'be noted that the operative movement of the traveller or driven member 22 takes place slowly or gradually but that this movement is positive and certain. At the same ,time the movement is smooth, without shock or impact, and the traveller is locked positively at any point in its traverse by the screw. Consequently, the mechanism is entirely reliable in operation, and any danger of the actuated device reboundingor throwing back and forth violently between it extremes of travel is avoided. While the op erative engagement of "the driving member 29 with the driven member or traveller 22 could be made in other ways than that shown, 1 prefer, for most purposes, to use the screw threaded construction because of its positive operation, its smooth and easy movement and its locking action. WVhere greater speed is desired a cam and follower or similar arrangement can be substituted.

This mechanism can be applied to a great variety of uses in the textile industry, and Figs. 5 and 6 show the application of the apparatus to a tandem feeder. This general type of feederis well known to those skilled in this art. In this arrangement the feeler 50 in the first feed hopper 62 is connected with the control lever 3 of the operating unit 13 through a rod 51. The second feeler 52 is also connected to this rod, this connection being made through an arm 53 and link 54. The feeder ,may be supplied with cotton from a distributor, bale breaker, or any other convenient apparatus, and consequently, the traveller 22 of the unit is connected by a rod 55 to the gate, belt shipper, or othercontrolling-element of the feeding machine or mechanism. The arrangement therefore issuch that either feeler can control the delivery of cotton to the machine. Due to the location ofthe collars on the rod 51, as shown in Fig. 5, the feeler 50 can either stop or start the delivery of cotton to the first feeding unit shown in this figure, while the feeler 52 can only stop such delivery. This'feeler is, however, connected through an arm 56 and rod 57 ,Figs. 5and 7, to another unit 13 which is connected through a rod then will operatethrough-the unit l3 to start the feed lattices in the hopper 62 again; If, however, the delivery of cotton to the hopper 62 has been stopped, such delivery will not be resumed until additional cottonis called for by the feeler 50.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is essentially like that shown in Fig. 23, so far as the connections between, the feeler and the unit 13 are concerned, but in this construction the traveller 22 is provided with a hook 43 to which is connected a wire, rope, cable, or the like, indicated at 64, and which runs to a belt shipper, switch, or similar element located at a remote point. Such an arrangement is useful where a feeder is supplied with cotton from a bale breaker, opener, or the like, located on anotherfioor or in another building, and where it is desired to control the operation of thebale breaker or opener in accordance with the requirements of the feeder. It will be understood that the wire or rope 64 will operate in opposition to a spring, or the like, which will shift the belt in a direction oppositeto the movement produced by the pull on the wire or rope 64. I

Fig. 8 shows a lattice feed which may be substituted for the belt conveyor 2 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This mechanism is of a usual type and includes a lattice, certain slats of which are shown at 65, the driving shaft for the lattice being shown at 66. 'A bevel gear 67 mounted on the end of this shaft is driven by another bevel gear 68 fast on the driving shaft 69. Fast and loose pulleys are mounted on this shaft, the loose pulley being shown at 7 0 and being driven by a belt 71 which can be shifted from one pulley to the other by the belt shipper 72. This shipper includes a lever which is arranged to be operated by a rock shaft 9 which, in turn, is operated by the unit 13 shown in Fig. 3. The lattice feed is simply substituted for the belt feed shown in Fig. 3, the lattice being started into operation automatically when the supply of cotton in the hopper becomes depleted, and

' stopped again when the supply has been replenished.

While I have herein shown and described engage said traveller and move it said member and constantly in operative engagement with it, means controlled by said to of means controlled by said slidable preferred embodiments of his invention and typical uses of the same, itwill be understood thatthe invention may be embodied in other forms, and may be used in lationships without departingv from thereof.

1 arranged in mm W ler may take a great variety or .ing upon the conditions dealt with.

Having thus described my in I desire to claim as r a driving member hat inclined and connections for ca govern the operation of said 2. In a mechanism for hanc and the like, the combination or means delivering cotton, a feeler mounted to er a constantly chang body of cotton cc. ered by said means, t id feeler being movable in response to variations in said body, a retary driving member, a traveller driven a teeler for causing said driving member move said traveller selectively in either two directions, and mechanism controlled said traveller for changing the action of cotton delivering means.

3. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like. the combination of cotton. d elivering mechanism. a traveller mounted for movement in a fixed path. power operated mechanism for driving said traveller slowly and positively in either a forward or backward direct-ion, as desired, a feeler controllirn.

the operation of said power opera-t d mecha- (3 nism and mounted to engage a changing body of cotton delivered by said deliver mechanism, said feeler being movable in response to variations in the body of cotton whicii it engages, and means controlled by the movement of said traveller for changing the action of the said cotton deliveriig mechanism. 4;. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of for delivering cotton, feeler mounted to e age a constantly changing body ofcotton d livered by said means, said feeler being movable in response to variations in said body a rotary driving member. aslidable member arranged to be driven by said driving member. means controlled by said teeler for causing said driving member to move said sli d able member selectively in either of two directions. and member for changing the action of said cotton de-l ranged to be operated by said traveller for modifying the action of said cotton delivering means. r

6. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of means for delivering cotton, a feeler mounted to engage a constantly changing body of cotton delivei d by said means, said feeler being movable in response to variations in said body,

traveller, a rotary driving member havng' screw threaded engagement with said veller and operative to move said traveller forward or'backward, mechanism under the control of said feeler for governing the operation of said traveller, and connections for enabling said traveller to modify the action of said cotton delivering means.

. i. c ism o1 1anc.1ng COLLOD an,

the like, the combination of means for de livering cotton, a teeler mounted to engage a constantly changing body of cotton delivered by said means, said teeler being inov able inresponse to variations in said body, a traveller, power driven mechanism for moving said traveller forward and backward in a fired path, connections between said feeler and said mechanism for causing the feelcr to control the operation of said mechanism. said mechanism serving to lock said traveller against reverse movement at any point to which it is moved by said mechanism, and connections for causing said traveller to modify the action of said cot on delivering means.

8. In mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination or" means for de livering cotton; mechanism for controlling the operation of said means comprising a shaft havin screw threaded portion, means supporting said shatttor rotation. a traveller engaged by the threaded portion of said shaft and arranged to be moved thereby, and means for driving said shaft in either direction to move said traveller backward or forward: a device arranged to be moved automatically in accordance with changes in the demand for cotton; and connections for causing said device to control therotation of said shaft by sai d driving mechanism.

9. ln mechanism "for handling cotton and the like,the combination of means for delivering cotton, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, means supporting said shaft for rotation, a traveller engaged by the threaded portion of said shaft and arranged to be 'moved thereby, means for driving said shaft sponsive to changes in the supply of cotton in the hopper, a shafthaving a screw threaded portlon, means support-mg said shaft for rotation, a traveller engaged by the threaded portion of said shaft and arranged to be moved thereby, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either direction, and connections for causing said feeler to control the movements of said traveller.

11. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of a feed hopper, means for delivering cotton to said l1opper, a feeler mounted in said hopper and responsive to changes in thesupply, of cotton in the hopper, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, means supporting said shaft for rotation, a traveller engaged by the threaded portion of said shaft and arranged to be moved thereby,mechanism for rotating said' shaft in either direction, connections for causing said feeler to control the rotation of said shaft by the driving mechanism therefor,

means controlled by said traveller for changing the action of said cotton delivering means, and means arranged to be 'operated by said traveller for interrupting the rotation of said shaft when the traveller has made substantially a predetermined movement.

12. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of a feed hopper,

means for delivering cotton to said hopper ineluding a gate movable to control such deliver a feeler mounted in said hopper and responsive to changes in the supplyof cotton in the hopper, a shaft having a sore threaded portion, means supporting said shaft for rotation, a traveller engaged bythe threaded portion of said shaft and arranged to be op erated thereby, mechanism for rotating said shaft in either dir ction to move said traveller backward or forward, connections for causing said feeler to control the movements of said traveller, and connections between said traveller and said gate for causing the I traveller to operate the gate.

13. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of means for delivering cotton, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, a bracket supporting said shaft for rotation, a traveller mounted for sliding movement on said bracket and arranged to be operated by the screw threaded portion of said shaft, mechanism mounted on said bracket for rotating said shaft in either direction to move said traveller backward or forward, a device arranged to be moved automatically in accordance with changes in the demand for the cotton conveyed by said delivering means, connections for causing said device to control the movements of said traveller, and means under the control of said traveller for changing the action of said cotton delivering means.

14. In a mechanism for handling cotton and the like, the combination of means for delivering cotton, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, a bracket supporting said shaft for rotation, a. traveller mounted for sliding movement on said bracket and arranged to be operated by the. screwthreaded portion of said shaft, a driving shaft mounted on said bracket, gears arranged to be driven by the latter shaft and operable to rotate said screw threaded shaft in either direction, a member for controlling the operative connection between said gears and said screw threaded shaft, a device arranged to be moved automatically in accordance with changes in the demand for the cotton conveyed by said delivering means, connections for causing said device to operate said controlling member, and means under the control of said traveller for changing the action of said cotton delivering means. I 15. I11 a mechanism for handling cottonand the like, the combination of means for deliveringcotton, a shaft having a screw threaded portion, abracket supporting said shaft for rotation, a traveller mounted for sliding. movement on said bracket and arranged to be operated'by the screw threaded portion of said shaft, a driving shaft mounted on said bracket, gears arranged to be driven by the latter shaft and operable to rotate said screw threaded shaft in either direction, clutch means for operatively connecting said gears, respectively, with sald screw threaded shaft, a clutch controlling member, a device arranged to be moved automatically in accord- WILLIAM SHAW. 

